# NTSB CHI95LA092: Cessna 150A, N7127X, Grant, MI, February 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 1995, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Grant, MI - Coordinates: 43.32901, -85.810325 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3290&lon=-85.8103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9842 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9842/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA092 ## Probable cause The student pilot's decision to intentionally land downwind and his failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing roll. The pilot's lack of experience and the tailwind were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - wrong runway - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A DOWNWIND LANDING, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A RUNWAY EDGE LIGHT, THEN A SNOWBANK AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED-OVER. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ALONG THE NORTH EDGE OF THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY 9 THRESHOLD. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD SIX HOURS TOTAL FLYING TIME AND HIS STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE HAD NOT BEEN ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT. HE WAS NOT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 1995, about 1015 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150A, N7127X, was substantially damaged when the solo student pilot lost directional control during the landing roll. The airplane veered off the runway, struck a runway edge light, a snowbank, and nosed-over. The accident occurred at the Grant Airport, Grant, Michigan (runway 9-27, 2530' x 120', turf). The pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight departed Sparta, Michigan, about 0920. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The student pilot reported that he was performing an intentional downwind landing on runway 9 and that following a normal approach and touchdown the aircraft veered to the left. He reported applying "hard" right rudder and right brake but could not prevent the aircraft from impacting the runway edge light and snowbank. The Unicom operator at the airport told investigators that surface wind at the time of the accident was from 250 degrees at 5 knots with gusts to 12 knots. The aircraft came to rest inverted, along the north edge of the runway approximately 1500 feet from the runway 9 threshold. The student pilot had six hours total flying time and his student pilot certificate had not been endorsed for solo flight. He was not under supervision of a flight instructor at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7127X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7127X-2013-02-20), registration cancelled 2013-02-20, S/N 15059227, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150A - Registry model: [Cessna 150A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150a) (registry code 2071804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15059227 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Harry Sutliffe - Registered owner: Lee Aviation Sales, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: 8D4, SPARTA, MI - Airport: 01C, Grant, runway 9, 2,530 × 120 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6 total, 6 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GRR, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950223002319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950223002319A), Feb 23, 1995: Cessna 150A, Grant, MI, Destroyed. Attempting quartering tailwind touch and go. Struck snow bank. Flipped over. Not endorsed for solo. (-23) the student pilot was attempting takeoffs and… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.